Friday, June 22, 2012

It is honor of Shraman culture(culture of inclusiveness). Teaching of Baba saheb and Budhha converted Lenin Raghuvanshi
from upper caste man to humane human.Nomination of Lenin is honor to
the teaching of Shraman culture.Please cast your vote against caste
system for Lenin Raghuvanshi/PVCHR, my organisation, for the Roland
Berger Human Dignity Award and feel proud to be part of it. Till date he
is only one nominee for the award and please mobilise your friends if you believe or support the cause of my organisation.

Monday, June 18, 2012

No other human acts can be so degrading as the act of torture; no other human instincts can be as repulsive and repugnant as idea of torturing someone, whosoever the culprit, government or a person. Stigma on the modern civilization, the practice of torture is widely prevalent among modern states up to the extent, where it seems, torture has been legalized. Torture dehumanizes a person to the level where ones faith is shaken in society. In addition, the effect of torture percolates, through the survivor of torture, in deep fabric of society, affecting people and communities.

A torture victim may deal the impact of torture in various ways; immediate impact of torture may benumbs the sense of victims, deeply affecting physical and psychological layers of the personality. In most cases, torture victims suffer from, to certain degree, psychological or physical harm. Exposure to extreme traumatic experiences not only affects the victims but also has profound impact on their family, the community, and the nation. Torture may alter personal feeling, beliefs, and judgment. However the cumulative effects of torture extend to the whole society, impacting generations to come. Various studies have proved that torture has lasting impact of fear, feeling of helplessness, loss of control, and anxiety.

Apart from the visible wounds, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can emerge after to a traumatic events. The defining characteristic of a traumatic event is its capacity to provoke a feeling of fear, horror, and helplessness in response to a threat of injury or death. Whether, physical torture or mild form of psychological torture, equally leave the lasting impact on the wellbeing on the torture victim. The torture victim is in essence de-humanized, striped of their dignity and self worth. This de-humanization manifests into various forms such as sexual humiliation, desecration (especially religion), and feral treatment (such as forcing victim to act as animal).

Torture is not restricted to an isolated event, as conditions of detention and repeated acts of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment can meet the threshold of torture as outlined in the United Nations Convention against Torture (1984). This include forced starvation, prolonged solitary confinement, repeated denial of basic medical health care, and custodial violence such as rape or being stripped naked.

In Indian context, torture in police custody is widely prevalent; include beating, use of third degree methods, verbal abuse and humiliation in public. Alarming rate of torture cases has shaken the Indian civil society. Numerous cases of torture have been documented and highlighted by the People Vigilance Commission on Human Rights (PVCHR). Nonetheless, PVCHR has taken the vital steps to combat the menace of torture particularly 'police-torture'. Remarkably, PVCHR, not only doing advocacy against police torture, but also, has lead 'anti-torture initiatives and campaigned on torture free society.

In its unique endeavor to provide a heeling hand to torture survivor, PVCHR is involved in a pilot project 'to improve psychological wellbeing among survivors of torture in India (Torture 2009 vol.19). Last but not the least; PHCVR has convened a National Consultation on (12-13 July 2012, New Delhi) 'Testimonial campaign which contributes to eliminate impunity for perpetrators of torture in India.' This is an organized effort of PVCHR to propagate the importance of testimonial therapy as a psycho legal support to the victims of torture.

However, high number of recorded cases of torture seeks more attention and consistent vigilance from local Civil Society. Furthermore, commitment to protect dignity of ordinary person must be a topmost priority of government. There is no justification, legal or moral, can be made to support the practice of torture.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

It
is an appeal to youngster of Varanasi to cast your vote against caste
system for Lenin Raghuvanshi/PVCHR, my organisation, for the Roland
Berger Human Dignity Award and feel proud to be part of it. Till date he
is only one nominee for the award and please mobilise your friends if
you believe or support the cause of my organisation.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

"Testimonial campaign contribute to eliminate impunity for perpetrators of torture in India"

I am glad to invite you in National Consultation for two days i.e. 12th – 13th July, 2012 in New Delhi on "Testimonial campaign contribute to eliminate impunity for perpetrators of torture in India" jointly organized by Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) and National Alliance on Testimonial Therapy (NATT). We are aware that the fear and phobia due to torture and organized violence (TOV) is imparting culture of silence and testimonial therapy as a psycho legal support to the survivor is breaking silence against impunity.

"Testimonial campaign contributes to eliminate impunity for perpetrators of torture in India"

"We have decided that when we would be successful in getting justice, then we would put up the photo of my younger brother in the home. Now our prime objective is to bring fore the police brutalities and seek justice. It might prove to be an example and break the fear among the people about police terror and brutalities.

Our descendants would get lesson out of it. While narrating the testimony I feel quite relieved and relaxed. Whenever I think about my brother I cannot sleep. It makes me restless. In the search of justice, we knocked to many doors but there was no meaningful response. Even we were contesting it in the court also. Then my father filed a complaint with National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), New Delhi and on 10th February 2011, NHRC directed Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh to release a compensation of Rs. 5, 00, 000/- (50 hundred thousand). Still now the UP Government has not acted upon NHRC's directive of 17th March 2011. My father did not file his complaint to NHRC for compensation but was seeking justice. NHRC's directive makes it amply clear that my brother was killed by police on false encounter and erring policemen should be given exemplary punishment. Still now policemen are putting pressure on our family members. I am quite scared while venturing out. On the one hand I happy at NHRC's directive for compensation and fear and despondency grips my mind seeing the guilty policemen moving scot-free". (From the testimony of Shri Ram Lal Patel)

Challenging the impunity through breaking the silence is based on eliminating the fear, phobia, hopelessness and fragmentation of the survivors in empathetic safe and secure environment. Survivor's psycho – social and legally supported through Testimonial Therapy converted into human rights defender/barefoot worker based on concept of justice, democracy, non – violence and human dignity. In this context Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), National Alliance on Testimonial Therapy (NATT) in collaboration of Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims (RCT) and European Union project is holding a two days national consultation i.e. 12th – 13th July, 2012 in New Delhi on "Testimonial campaign contribute to eliminate impunity for perpetrators of torture in India". We are aware that the fear and phobia due to torture and organized violence (TOV) is imparting culture of silence and testimonial therapy as a psycho -legal support to the survivor is breaking silence against impunity.

In the national consultation "Testimony to improve psychosocial wellbeing and promote advocacy for survivors of torture and organised violence" held 16 – 17 April 2009 Vishwya Yuvak Kendra, New Delhi a loose alliance National Alliance on Testimonial Therapy (NATT) was formed by the panelist for the further use of testimonial therapy in India. In 2010 NATT secretariat launch formal subscription form for the NATT and now organization from 8 states are its members.

The PVCHR had widen the testimonial campaign in Manipur with Wide Angle, Assam with Barak Human Rights Protection Committee, Karnataka with SICHREM and Uttar Pradesh (Purvanchal and Bundelkhand region with Institute of Social Development Trust) and trained more than 50 human rights defenders and community worker in 5 Training of the Trainers workshops and developed manual "Giving Voice" different cultural context for the south India and north – east India in their own local language.

The testimonial method was originally developed in Chile during the military dictatorship in 1970s. It has been successfully used in the psychotherapeutic treatment of survivors of torture and organized violence in India and it has also been an advocacy tool employed by different human rights movements. It is a specific therapeutic technique which is being used to confirm and document severe emotional trauma that victims of torture and their relatives had experienced.

PVCHR has integrated Testimonial Therapy into a unique advocacy and educational model within which "torture free" model villages are organized and empowered to protect and expand basic human rights, and to fight against impunity of the violators. The pain and the agony expressed in the testimonies have helped to inform and convince the judiciary and human rights institutions about the injustice committed against the plaintiff. It is easier to elicit a coherent story from survivors and it effectively help to release their pain during narration of the suffering of being tortured.

PVCHR have further experienced a synergetic effect of the testimonial therapy with their folk school at villages and colonies in urban locations as breaking the censorship to challenge the impunity. The TOV free village strategy is focusing on survivors and advocating for reforms with interlinked activities:

Testimonial Therapy

Seeking Legal Redress

Building Solidarity

Advocacy for Institutional Reform

Therefore to integrate torture free" model villages process PVCHR selected 50 villages in 5 model blocks in Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand and measures the development with the given below indicators:

oUnderstanding about their rights

oEqual rights to women

oNo caste based discrimination

oReach out of people to the institution

o Religious freedom

oPolitical awareness

oFearless society

oHaving feeling of one of all and all for one

oAssurance of child rights

oLivelihood opportunity

oCommunity participation at all level

oAssurance of essential facilities

oAwareness for clean and green environment

Since 1996 PVCHR contributed in the anti – torture campaign for the ratification of UNCAT and enactment of domestic law against torture with focus on Rehabilitation policy for the survivors of Torture and Organized Violence. PVCHR wrote open letter to all political parties, parliamentarians and CSOs of India on basis of comment prepared by RCT on prevention of torture bill. After that PVCHR submitted comment before select committee.[i]

We would like to express thanks to the Working Group Dalit Issues – National Advisory Council for the 'Draft Recommendations containing Essential Elements of the Implementation Framework of Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (SCSP)'.They detail the institutional arrangements for central and state governments, the required planning process, preparation of Annual Plans, appraisals by the ministries or Nodal departments, Non-divertability and Non-lapsability of SCSP funds and the Monitoring required. We welcome these recommendation.

However, Dalit leaders, human rights and other civil society organisations are extremely disappointed that the NAC working Group Dalit Issues has ignored the earlier recommendation for a Central Legislation for the SCSP.

We would like to remind the Working Group on Dalit Issues of NAC that similar guidelines have already been issued by the Planning Commission (vide D.O. No.M-13011/3/2005-SP-Co, dated October 31, 2005) more than 6 years ago. Despite the Guidelines there was a colossal denial of allocations and diversions and notional allocations of funds to SCSP. In the XIth Plan period(2007-08 till 2011-12), in the Central Govt Budget there was a denial of allocation of funds to the tune of Rs. Cr.1,42,865.20 to the SCSP and TSP as there was no accountability of the concerned ministries nor of the Planning Commission.

This gross and willful negligence of State and its functionaries towards SCs and STs in matters of their economic development is clearly due to the lack of a legislation building entitlements in the SCSP.

We, representing several Dalit and Human Rights Organisations therefore, strongly urge the Working Group Dalit Issues of National Advisory Council to recommend for a Central Legislation as part of the Reforms for Scheduled Castes Sub Plan currently being drafted.

Wednesday, June 06, 2012

As the horrific story of what all is happening inside the Manoj Manjari Sishu Bhawan (MMSB), a Government-aided orphanage in Keonjhar is unfolding, the district citizenry appears to become more and more restive over the apathetic attitude of the Government and the local authorities towards the situation.

Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi, general secretary of People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights recently wrote to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, requesting him to conduct an inquiry through an independent agency and protect the inmates of the orphanage. He has mentioned several incidents of child abuse — sexual and physical exploitation of the inmates by MMSB secretary SN Mishra and others.

Three Swedish volunteers — Linnea Karlson, Sara Arrhusius and Josefine Jacobson — who worked at the orphanage during 2010-11, in their testimonies and letter to the orphanage authorities, have also narrated how they witnessed cruel abuse of children and their brutal molestation both physically and mentally.

Shocking news on exploitation and mismanagement at the MMSB has repeatedly come out in different media and many conscious citizens in their letters to authorities have expressed their deep concern for the distressed children sheltered in the orphanage.

Last month three female staffs, Parbati Jena, Sasmita Bharati and Amrut Barik met the chairperson of the State Commission for Women’s and the State Human Rights Commission with allegations of sexual harassment and mental torture perpetrated on them by the secretary. Bharati accused Mishra of molesting her in his office and later dismissing her from her job when she protested his behaviour. The OHRC has forwarded the petition of the victims to the Collector, Keonjhar for inquiry. But since the Collector is ex-officio president of the MMSB, and the SP of Keonjhar is the vice-president, many apprehend whether an impartial inquiry will be made.

On March 10, 16 children of the orphanage preferred to go back to the streets to living a life of fear and torture at the orphanage. In January 2009, the board members, the Collector and the Additional District Magistrate, Keonjhar, through independent inquiries confirmed merciless beating of inmates over silly issues, and other financial irregularities for which the caretaker secretary, SN Mishra, was removed from his post. But soon after his removal Mishra was again positioned there as secretary due to his strong influence as president of the local Press Club and his deep connections with Pyarimohan Mohapatra, ignoring his misconduct.

The Collector also admitted that intentionally teenager girls from poor families were illegally appointed and removed by the secretary frequently without the president’s approval and raised suspicion on why 18 such female staffs were appointed and removed from MMSB within a period of two years. But surprisingly, a petition dated March 8, 2011 addressed to the National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi, was dropped after a report from the Collector, Keonjhar denying any kind of torture or exploitation at the Sishu Bhawan.

Over the years, hundreds of orphans who grew up in the orphans have gone back to the streets, from where they came, after they left the institution. The authorities have never bothered about their rehabilitation or kept track of these fugitive inmates. Especially the plight of the teenager girls, who left the institution, is even worse. They are in the immediate risk of being exposed to exploitation. Samara Ho and Tapan Ho are seen moving around in the streets in search of food after they were removed for complaining against the secretary. Kabi behera (16), who was forced to leave the Sishu Bhawan three years back just because he failed in Class VIII, survives working as a helper in a local bus. Khirod Aruk (15), another former inmate, works in a roadside garage. Kabula Behera who left two years back and Debabrata Das who left three years back are yet to find any source of living. Many other former inmates like them have been forced into child labour. The fate of girls like Kunti Ho (15), Kunti Jeet (16), Monalisha sahoo (14) , Laxmipriya Purty (13years and left since 2008), Pana Ho, Rina Mahakud, Sanju Behera, Laxmipriya Majhi, Swarnalata Patra, Sumitra Pradhan and many others have become uncertain after they left the Sishu Bhawan with an uncertain and insecure future.